Tolbo Eagle Festival September 2026

Experience the thrill of Eagle Hunting by living with and learning from one of the most well-known Eagle Hunters in Western Mongolia. Spend time getting to know this traditional way of living in an intimate, private setting – it’s just you, your guide, and the Eagle Hunter! Ride horses out for a hunt and flying practice, learn about traditional Kazakh handicrafts, try your hand at archery with a local master, and attend the small, local Tolbo Eagle Festival to cheer on your host as he competes!

Book Now: September 13 – 22, 2026 (10 Days, 9 Nights) Price: $4,000 USD (2 Person Minimum)

Tour Type: Homestay
Book Now (Private Tour)
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Eight Lakes Horse Trek

10-day Reindeer Herder Tour

Dates: September 13 – 22, 2026 (10 Days, 9 Nights)

Group Size: Able to Accommodate 2 – 10 Travelers

Stay: Homestay with an Eagle Hunter Family and Hotels

Tour Type: Homestay, Cultural, Festival, Photographer’s Dream

Included: English, French, or German-Speaking Guide, Private Drivers, Meals, Accommodation, Domestic Flights, Airport Transfers

Price to Book: $4,000 USD (2 Person Minimum)

Book this private tour and experience the thrill of Eagle Hunting during one of the most intimate experiences you can have in Mongolia. This isn’t your typical travel experience, this is the adventure of a lifetime.

During this private itinerary travel from Ulaanbaatar to the heart of Western Mongolia to live with an Eagle Hunter family. Learn their traditions, eat meals alongside them, and get to know them during this homestay experience.

Spend your days horseback riding with your host family, holding the weight of the eagle on your arm and learning how they hunt by going out and doing it! For a few days, you’ll live, eat, sleep, and breathe just like these families have for their entire lives.

At the host family you’ll have your own private ger (yurt), with a bed and sleeping bags provided, where you can make yourself comfortable between excursions. There will be a stove in your ger to keep you warm at night. Temperatures during this time of year start to become freezing in the evening.

This adventure isn’t just about the Eagle Hunters, you’ll also meet a local archery master and learn how to shoot traditional Mongolian Archery, spend time with women who hand-make some of the most beautiful local crafts you’ve ever seen, and stop in to meet the neighbors and get the neighborhood gossip.

This adventure requires a medium level of fitness and involves living without access to running water (and hot showers), electricity, and reliable cell phone service. This is the real nomadic life!

If you’re craving an adventure, this is it!

Want to extend your trip? Add-on these Experiences

🐴 Day Trip to Terelj National Park and the Chinggis Khaan Equestrian Statue (Book for any day, it’s the perfect day trip to get into the spirit of Mongolia.)

🤝 Visit the Black Market with a Local (Book for any day except Tuesdays (closed), great for gear shopping, souvenir browsing, and feeling like a local.)

🥟 Sights of the Capital: Ulaanbaatar City Tour (Get to know Mongolia’s capital city through it’s history, museums, and local food spots.)

Highlights of this Tolbo Eagle Festival Private Tour

This experience includes a range of activities and experiences that are specially curated for you and your group. Once you book, we’ll send you a day-by-day breakdown of this experience, along with a complete packing list, so you know what to expect during your trip.

Highlights of this private tour include:

Live with one of the most famous Eagle Hunters in Mongolia.
Learn about the nomadic Kazakh people’s culture, religion, and customs.
Help train and prepare alongside the hunter for the Tolbo Eagle Festival, one of the smaller, more intimate festivals in western Mongolia.
Attend the Tolbo Eagle Festival and cheer on your host as he competes against other top local Eagle Hunters.
Buy traditional handicrafts at the festival right from the men and women who make them!
Take part in centuries-old Kazakh games, including Kokpar, an intense horseback game often compared to polo, played with a goat carcass.
Live in a traditional and comfortable nomadic ger and enjoy the quietness of the steppe.
Learn traditional archery from the masters, the Uriankhai people.
Meet talented artisans who create intricate textiles, embroidery, and felt crafts, keeping their ancestors’ traditions alive. Take a class and learn a new skill from them to take home and practice!
We are able to accommodate vegetarian and other dietary restrictions!

When you book this tour, plan to arrive in Ulaanbaatar on or before September 13, 2026. You will have today to get settled in before meeting your guide for a Welcome Dinner in the evening.

Many travelers choose to arrive in Ulaanbaatar at least 1 – 2 days early to adjust to Mongolian time and shop for warm clothes. If you’d like to arrive a few days early, We are happy to help you make arrangements at the hotel using our discounted corporate rate and help you make the most of this time in Ulaanbaatar. If you’d like to visit the Black Market to shop for affordable, warm clothing for this adventure, be sure to book our Black Market tour.

What's Included

English, German, and French-speaking Mongolian guides available.
Domestic flight to Western Mongolia (roundtrip).
All airport transfers (international arrivals, domestic flights, international departure).
Transportation during the trip dates.
All accommodation during the trip dates, including a hotel in Ulaanbaatar (Best Western Premier Tuushin or similar), your homestay with the Eagle Hunter and his family, and hotels in Western Mongolia.
All activities listed on the itinerary, including tickets to attend the Tolbo Eagle Festival.
Meals* (breakfast, lunch, dinner) as outlined on the trip itinerary. We are able to accommodate vegetarian and other dietary restrictions. Please let us know of any dietary restrictions when booking.

What's Not Included

International airfare.
Excess baggage fees on the domestic flight to/from western Mongolia. There is a 15 kg limit on checked bags and 5 kg limit on handbags. Overages are subject to additional fees (5,000 Mongolian Tugrik for every 1 kg over the weight limit).
Visa costs and fees.
Travel Insurance that covers medical evacuation and cost of participation (required).
Personal expenses such as laundry, alcoholic beverages, telephone calls, optional activities, and meals which are not included in the trip itinerary.
Tips and additional gratuities.

Visit our tour cancellation policy page if you have any additional questions.

Book Now

The price to book this 10-day Tolbo Eagle Festival Private Tour is $4,000 USD/person.

Authentic Cultural Immersion: Live among eagle hunters and nomadic families, experiencing their way of life firsthand.
Thrilling Adventures: Participate in real eagle hunting, horseback games, and traditional archery.
Exclusive Access: Witness the Altansug Eagle Festival, a rare event showcasing ancient Kazakh traditions.
Hands-on Experiences: Train an eagle, create your own crafts, and try your hand at traditional sports.

This once in a lifetime experience happens September 13 – 22, 2026.

To book your spot, please complete the Google form linked below. Once received, we will reach out with everything you’ll need to complete your booking.

Is this trip right for me?

There are a few important things to know about this trip.

Accommodations will be separate from your host family, in your own private ger with beds and sleeping bags provided.
The temperature in September in Western Mongolia can get very cold. We will do our best to keep you as warm and comfortable as possible, but please keep in mind that we will be spending a lot of time outside. If you need help deciding what to pack, shop some of our favorite winter clothing and gear.
You will be living off-grid. That means running water, regular electricity, hot showers, and reliable data and cellular service will not be available. Toilets are also pit-style, and very basic in nature. This is your chance to disconnect from the outside world and embrace living in harmony with the land around you!
We will be driving off-road. It’s not easy to get to these remote corners of Mongolia, but the journey is always worth it. Please let us know in advance if you get car sick. If you do, we recommend purchasing these motion sickness glasses.